Bridges on Proverbs 21:16
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:16
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6-7 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25-26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 30-31 
 
16.  The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
 
This seems to describe the fearful and irretrievable ruin of apostates. (Psalm 125:5.) God has opened the way of understanding. The wandering out of it implies, that the man was once in it; at least that he was instructed, and professed to walk in it. The end of willful wandering is eternal death. Such was the character and end of the wicked son of Jehoshaphat;† and the rebellious children of godly Josiah;† apostates from the religion “received by tradition from their fathers.”
But — not to go to olden times — It is no rare sight to see the children of godly parents cast off the privileges of their birthright, as despised in their eyes. Though early instructed in “the Holy Scriptures;” instead of “continuing in the things which they have learned and been assured of” (2 Timothy 3:14, 15), they have “loved to wander.” (Jeremiah 14:10.) They have never proved a real apprehension of the substance of truth, or a just appreciation of its value. The way has been too straight, and too humbling. Novelties have been preferred: self-confidence indulged; self-pleasing delusions cherished; the want of godly sincerity has darkened the path (Matthew 6:23); conscientious error, varnished with external holiness, is readily admitted; and the man, destitute of a solid scriptural standard, wanders out of the way of understanding.
This state of death is often connected (and stands out more strongly by the connection) with external observance of religion, the practice of many moral duties, and with a certain measure of moral taste, partially formed according to the scriptural standard. But there are also occasional emotions of conviction under the oppressive consciousness that the heart was wanting; and whatever might be the temporary excitement — like Saul under the soothing notes of the harp of the son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:14-23), there is no movement from the state of hardened rebellion against God. The true cause of the death, is that in the full blaze of religious knowledge, a living faith is absent. Hence there is no reality of prayer; therefore no genuine desire, no vital effort, no hearty perseverance. With all his light, knowledge, and privileges, the man is still a wanderer out of the way of understanding.
Indeed wandering is the character of man's fallen nature. (Isaiah 53:6.) But light, conviction, advantages of instruction, awfully aggravate the responsibility. (Ib. 28:12, 13. Zephaniah 1:4-6.) Beware of the first wandering step, whether it may be in doctrine or in practice. It may fix in a state of apostasy, like Bunyan's blinded wanderers out of the strait path, who were found among the tombs, remaining in the congregation of the dead. A special mercy will it be, if the wayward wanderer does not find his last and final abode among ‘the mighty dead,’ “to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”† “It had been better for him not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after he has known it, to turn from the holy commandments delivered unto him.” (2 Peter 2:21.) Let such as he remember, that remaining among the congregations of the dead shews their character, their state, and their home; and that though they be by birth Abraham's children, born of godly parents, yet, wandering out of the way of understanding, they are out of the way of life.
One can only wish to view such sad apostates, as Faithful and Hopeful did, with tears gushing out of our eyes, silently pondering. Do they not stand as warnings to us, that we should tremble — yea — “rejoice with trembling”? (Psalm 2:11.) While we “stand by faith,” must we not remember the needful caution — “Be not high-minded, but fear”? (Romans 11:20.) Ever let us combine self-distrust with our Christian confidence; “fearing, lest, a promise being left us of entering into rest, any of us should seem to come short of it” (Hebrews 4:1); thankful alike for the warnings to make us fear, and for the encouragements to preserve us from despondency.
But the great mass are also here described. They never profess; they never have professed. They know that “wisdom crieth without,” yet they refuse to hear the voice of the charmer.”† Many will occasionally hear, yet “they go their way, and straightway forget what manner of men they were.”† Noah's mighty generation was of this character; and they remained in the congregation of the dead.† And will not every one, who, with the opportunities to attain wisdom, refuses, departs, turns away, be found to have “died in their trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) eternally?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 125:5
5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Chronicles 21:1, 4-6, 18, 19.
 
 
1 ¶ Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. 5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. 18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 36:1-17. Jeremiah 22:17-19, 28-30.
 
 
2 Chronicles 36:1-17
1 ¶ Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. {put...: Heb. removed him} 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt. 5 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. 6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. {fetters: or, chains} 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. {Jehoiachin: also called, Jeconiah, or, Coniah} 9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. 10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. {when...: Heb. at the return of the year} {goodly...: Heb. vessels of desire} {Zedekiah...: or, Mattaniah, his father's brother} 11 ¶ Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. 13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel. 14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: {by: Heb. by the hand of} {betimes: that is, continually and carefully} 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. {remedy: Heb. healing} 17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
 
Jeremiah 22:17-19, 28-30
17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. {violence: or, incursion} 18 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! 19 He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem. 28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? 29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. 30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Timothy 3:14, 15
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
 
 
Jeremiah 14:10
10 ¶ Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
 
 
Matthew 6:23
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
 
 
1 Samuel 16:14-23
14 ¶ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. {troubled: or, terrified} 15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. {matters: or, speech} 19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. 20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. 21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
 
 
Isaiah 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. {laid...: Heb. made the iniquity of us all to meet on him}
 
 
Isaiah 28:12, 13
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
 
Zephaniah 1:4-6
4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; 5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; {by the...: or, to the LORD} 6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
 
 
Footnote:
Jude 12, 13. ‘Mighty dead.’ See Dr. Good's Note on Job 26:5. ‘In caeta gigantum.’ — Melancthon. Parkhurst, and most critics consider intensity to be implied. Compare Isaiah 14:9. See on chapter 2:18, n. Dr. Graves quotes this text with several others in this Book (4:18, 19; 8:35, 36; 12:28; 14:32) in evidence of the knowledge of the future state under the old dispensation. — Lectures on Pentateuch, Part iii. Lect. iv.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jude 12, 13
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
 
 
Job 26:5
5 ¶ Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. {and the...: or, with the inhabitants}
 
 
Isaiah 14:9
9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. {Hell: or, The grave} {chief...: Heb. leaders, or, great goats}
 
 
Proverbs 2:18
18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
 
 
Proverbs 4:18, 19
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
 
Proverbs 8:35, 36
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. {obtain: Heb. bring forth} 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
 
Proverbs 12:28
28 ¶ In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
 
Proverbs 14:32
32 ¶ The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Peter 2:21
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
 
 
Psalm 2:11
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
 
 
Romans 11:20
20 Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
 
 
Hebrews 4:1
1 ¶ Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 1:20. Psalm 58:5.
 
 
Proverbs 1:20
20 ¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: {Wisdom: Heb. Wisdoms, that is, Excellent wisdom}
 
Psalm 58:5
5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. {charming...: or, be the charmer never so cunning}
 
 
Footnote:
James 1:24.
 
 
James 1:24
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Peter 3:19, 20. 2 Peter 2:5. Genesis 6:4.
 
 
1 Peter 3:19, 20
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
 
2 Peter 2:5
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
 
Genesis 6:4
4 ¶ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
 
 
Ephesians 2:1
1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;